Removable and reusable device for extracting and retracting a length of material

Abstract

A removable and reusable device is presented for extracting and retracting a length of material stored about the circumference of a spool or cylinder. The removable and reusable device includes a retaining element having an opening though which the stored material can pass and a flexible band attached to the retaining element.

1 . A removable and reusable device for extracting and retracting a length of material stored about a spool or cylinder comprising: 
 a flexible band; and    a retaining element connected to the band having an opening therein for passing the length of material therethrough and at least one movable flap member extending from a top of the retaining element.    
   
   
       2 . The removable and reusable device of  claim 1  wherein the flexible band is comprised of an elasticized cloth material.  
   
   
       3 . The removable and reusable device of  claim 1  wherein the retaining element comprises two movable flap members extending from the top of the retaining element.  
   
   
       4 . The removable and reusable device of  claim 1  wherein the flexible band comprises a first end and a second end, wherein at least one of the first and second ends is positioned between the movable flap member and the side of the retaining element.  
   
   
       5 . The removable and reusable device of  claim 1  wherein the movable flap member is capable of being removably connected to at least one of a bottom and side of the retaining element.  
   
   
       6 . The removable and reusable device of  claim 1  wherein the retaining element comprises a hard plastic, a metal, or other nonflexible material.  
   
   
       7 . The removable and reusable device of  claim 1  wherein the length of material is extracted by pulling the length of material away from the retaining element such that the retaining element moves in a first direction about a circumference of the spool or cylinder.  
   
   
       8 . The removable and reusable device of  claim 7  wherein the length of material is retracted by moving the retaining element about the spool or cylinder in an opposite direction from the first direction.  
   
   
       9 . The removable and reusable device of  claim 1  wherein the flexible band comprises a first end and a second end, each of which are secured to a side of the retaining element.  
   
   
       10 . A method for extracting and retracting a length of material stored about a spool or cylinder comprising the steps of: 
 providing a retaining element having an opening therein sufficient in size to enable the length of material to pass therethrough and at least one movable flap member extending from a top of the retaining element;    connecting a flexible band to the retaining element by positioning at least one end of the flexible band between the movable flap member and a side of the retaining element;    inserting an end of the length of material through the opening in the retaining element;    positioning the flexible band and the retaining element connected thereto over the length of material stored about the spool or cylinder;    pulling the end of the length of material away from the retaining element such that the retaining element moves in a first direction about a circumference of the spool in order to extract the length of material; and    moving the retaining element about the spool or cylinder in a direction opposite the first direction to retract the length of material.    
   
   
       11 . A method for making a removable and reusable device for extracting and retracting a length of material stored about a spool or cylinder comprising the steps of: 
 providing a flexible band having a first end and second end; and    connecting a retaining element having at least one movable flap member to the flexible band wherein the retaining element has an opening contained therein through which the length of material can pass.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the step of connecting a retaining element to the flexible band comprises the step of positioning at least one of the first and second ends of the flexible band between the movable flap member and a side of the retaining element.